Device for tapping mains



(No Model.) 2 sheets- Sheet 1.

l M. P. MADDEN.

DEVIGE FOR TAPPING MAINS.

' Patented Nov. 17,1891.

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M. P. MADDEN. lDEVICE FOR nfxPPIlmf MAINS. No. 463,524. Patented Nov.1.7, 1891.

UNITED STATES MARK I). MADDEN, OF CORONADO, CALIFORNIA.

DEVICE FOR TAPP'ING MAINS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 463,524, dated November17', 1891.

i Application filed `Tuly 17, 1891. Serial No. 399,862. (No model.)

' fication.

My invention is an improved device for drilling and tapping water-mains;and its principal object is to provide means by which a hole may bedrilled through the main and threaded at the same time without requiringthe cutting off of the water from the main, and to enable the operatorto insert into the opening thus made a service-pipe without undue lossof water.

The invention consists in the devices and combination of deviceshereinafter more fully set forth.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 :represents in section my deviceas applied to a main. Fig. 2 is a sectional view taken vertically acrossthe main with a portion of my device in place. Fig. 3 is a detail viewof the valve for closing the opening made in the main. Fig. 4. is a planview, partly in section. Fig. 5 is a sectional vi ew showing the mannerof applying the service-pipe to the main. Figs. 6 and 7 are views ofdetails.

In the gures the main is shown at A and the saddle or support for theoperating parts Aof the device at B, this saddle being made in twoparts, which separate on the central longitudinal line, as shown at a,the two parts being held together by angular clamps b. The under face ofthe saddle about its center is made slightly concave to iit the convexsurface of the main. The angular clamps are provided with centralopenings, which register with slots c in the ends of the saddle proper,through which project bolts provided with nuts on their upper ends,their lower ends terminating, respectively, in a hook and eye, whichengage with a chain c or other connection passing under the main, and bymeans of which the saddle is held securely in place upon the main. Onthe upper face of the saddle a nipple 9 is formed with an openingthrough the same, this opening being screwthreaded for a part of itslength, and into this opening is screwed a cylindrical casing 10,

having astuffing-box at its upper end, through which' passes thedrilling-tool. rIhis drillingtool is supported at its upper end by meansof a pressure-screw, which passes through an opening in the upper end ofa bracket O, which .Y

isforked at its lower end and adapted to fit within a recess formedbetween the nipple on the saddle and the upper face of the same, so thatthis bracket is easily removed when desired. The boring-tool is givenany amount of pressure by the pressure-screw l2, and it is rotated topenetrate the main by means of a ratchet-lever D, which is fitted tothesquared upper part of the tool.

In order to provide for the cuttingoff of the water through the openingmade by the tool, I have provided a valve, which is carried in a chambersecured to or forming a part'of the saddle. This chamber opens into theopenings extending through the nipple and the saddle, and the valvelocated within the chamber is adapted to close the opening leading tothe main and shut off the ow of water into the casing after thedrilling-tool has penetrated the main and been withdrawn from theopening formed thereby. This valve is a compound valve and consists of alower part d, which has a perfectly plain lower face with an inclinedupper face, and a part e, which has an inclined lower face and a plainupper face. The operating-rod f has its end swiveled in the part d andis threaded into the overhanging part of the upper valve, so that, whilein the horizontal movement of the rod the two parts will slide together,by turning the rod a Wedging action may be secured anda very close fiteffected. After the opening has been made in the main thepressure-screw' is removed from contact with the drilling-tool and thistool is lifted, as it is permitted a limited vertical movement, and asthis vmovement withdraws the tool, as shown in Fig. 1, above the line ofmovement of thecut-off valve the said valve is then pushed forward andthe exit of water from the main prevented. The cylindrical casingcontaining the drilling-tool is then removed from the nipple, as is alsothe bracket, leaving the upper part of the saddle free fromobstructions. I then screw into the nipple a cap-plate 13, which isdivided centrally, the parts being held together by pins 14 upon onehalf entering openings in the IOO other halt. This capplate has acentral opening and the opening is reduced near the bottom of the plate,and into the recess on the upper face I screw a Washer 15, which holdsin place a gasket 16, of rubber or like material, which is provided withan opening` conforming to the opening through the washer and cap-plate,but of slightly less diameter, so that the edges of the lgasket projectslightly into the opening, which forms a packing. The washer is alsodivided centrally in precisely the same way as the cap-plate. Thecap-plate is screwed into place until the divisioirline in the cap-plateand washer are in line with 'the division-lines of the saddle. A shortseetion of serviceepipe 17, having a cock or valve connected therewith,is then forced down past the rubber packing, which makes a tight fit.The valve is then withdrawn and the servicepipe screwed into thethreaded opening in the main. The chain around the main is then loosenedand Withdrawn, the clamps which hold the parts of the saddle togetherare removed, and the saddle, cap-plate, and washer separated on a lineof their division, leaving` the service-pipe in the screw-threadedopening and permitting of the use of the tapping devices in any othersituation. y

I claim as my inventionl. A tapping device for mains and other pipes,consisting of a supporting-saddle, a borin g-tool carried thereby, aratchet for operating the boring-tool, and a valve for closing theopening between the easingand the main, said valve being composed of twoparts adapted to move together horizontally and having a wedging actionin relation to each other, substantially as described.

2. In combin ation with a supportingsaddle,

a cylindrical casing carried thereby, a vcrtically-movable boring-toolin said easing, and a valve between said casing and the main,substantially as described.

23. In combination with a supportingsaddle, suitable boring devices, anda valve consisting ot two parts, with a single rod or stem for impartingto said valve a sliding movement and a wedging action in relation toeach other, substantially as described.

4L. In combination with a supporting-saddle having a threaded nipple,and a cap-plate adapted to replace the boring devices, said saddle andcap-plate being divided centrally and adapted to be used in connectionwith a pipe inserted through the cap-plate into the opening made in themain, substantially as de scribed.

5. In combination with the divided saddle, a valve carried by one partthereof, a divided cap-plate adapted to be secured to the saddle abovethe line ot' the valve, and a gasket carried bythe cap-plate andextending Within the line of its central opening, substantially asdescribed.

o'. Invcolnbination with a divided saddle, clamps for holding thedivisions together, an extension on one part carrying a valve, a dividedcap-plate fitted to a nipple forming a part of the saddle, a gasket, anda divided washer for securingr the gasket in place, substantially asdescribed.

In testimony whereof I atlix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

M. I. MADDICi Witnesses:

Wu. Wol-inrit, .Timms TiroiisoN.

